Where Were You?
Last Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the infamous terrorist attack on the United States, and it became indelibly impressed in my memory. And it’s one of those tragedies that kind of freezes time so that I can remember vividly where I was and what I was doing when those planes smashed into the World Trade Center towers and subsequently reduced them to rubble. A third plane hit the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pa. The death toll was close to 3,000. I was having coffee with a fellow faculty member on the porch of the College Union at what then was West Liberty State College and now is West Liberty University. Another faculty member came up to us and gave us a quick update on what had eventuated. I had to leave to teach a class, but as I walked through the Union, I saw a television news broadcast showing a picture of a plane lodged in the side of one of the twin towers. And I remember thinking first of all the poor people who had offices there and secondly how much work it would entail to patch that skyscraper, never for a moment thinking the whole thing would ultimately collapse. In the 20 ensuing years since 9/11, I unfortunately have witnessed far too many tragedies, and I would be hard-pressed to rank them, but 9/11 certainly is near the top as are the Jan. 9 insurrection orchestrated by a sitting president and the televised murder of an African American by a white police officer. As horrific as all of these were, what is even worse is that they happened in this country – the land of the free and the home of the brave. Of course the gigantic question generated by all of the assassinations and tragedies we have endured is this: Will things ever change?
It’s Baaack!
Yes, despite all the COVID-19 germs flying all over the place, college football made its triumphant return last weekend, and if anyone were afraid of catching the virus, it didn’t show from the jam-packed stadiums without any evidence of masked fans. It would be interesting to find out how many fans came down with the virus after attending a game. You just know that there are lots of hungry germs looking for some poor soul to infect. If you look at it from the germs’ point of view, they must be ecstatic to find venues with 100,000 people all in the same place. What a smorgasbord! And the germs don’t need to hurry either because most of those fans won’t be going anyplace for at least three hours. That’s even plenty of time for a daddy germ to go back home and bring the wife and children back to enjoy a bountiful repast in the stadium. Bon appetite!
Not again, please!
Last winter was one of the most miserable times I can ever remember. The pandemic was wreaking its illness and death around the world, and its effect on the United States was beyond devastating. For a time the country just shut down as did some other countries. As many school children were forced to stay home and rely on virtual classes, small business owners were trying to figure out how they were going to survive the shutdown, and scientists were frantically working around the clock to develop a vaccine. High school and college graduation ceremonies ended up being conducted virtually, and masks were the rule of the day. We weren’t even allowed to hug family members in our homes, and it seemed like forever until things finally began to loosen up, and suddenly the miracle occurred. We ultimately had not one, but two vaccines that could be administered by injections in the arm. Now things could now return to normal as the vaccines wiped out the virus. But that didn’t happen because, for some strange reason, not everyone wanted get the shots. As a result the virus and its variant got a foothold on us again, and that has necessitated some very unpopular mandates by President Biden, who was enraged by those who have refused to be vaccinated. Opinions vary, but I simply cannot understand why people will risk contracting a killer disease or spreading it around instead of opting for a shot or two that will keep them well. Now that football season has arrived, packed stadiums with fans who have eschewed wearing masks seem as if they would be a breeding ground for COVID-19 or its variant. I hope I’m wrong, but the only way to beat this damn thing is with massive vaccinations. Please help and get vaccinated!
Spoiled!
COVID-19 reared its ugly head here last Friday as it forced the cancelation of Wheeling Park’s home football opener against Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph. Dwayne Rogers, Wheeling Park’s athletics director, said that game will not be made up, but he added that an effort will be made to schedule another game on Park’s open date. Last season COVID-19 knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs.
Ponder This:
My grandmother was a very tough woman. She buried three husbands, and two of them were just napping.
~ Rita Rudner
